What body system is hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia refers to a lower-than-normal level of sodium in the blood. Sodium is essential for many body functions including the maintenance of fluid balance, regulation of blood pressure, and normal function of the nervous system.
What is the most common type of hyponatremia?
Euvolemic hyponatremia It is the most common and accounts for 60% of all cases of hyponatremia. The commonest cause of euvolemic hyponatremia is Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of Anti diuretic hormone (SIADH).
Is hyponatremia hypotonic or hypertonic?
Most patients with hyponatremia have hypotonicity, but there are exceptions (table 1). Hyponatremia without hypotonicity can occur in patients with hyperglycemia, in patients who have accumulated exogenous effective osmoles, and in patients with pseudohyponatremia caused by extreme hyperlipidemia or hyperproteinemia.
What is hypertonic hyponatremia?
Patients with hypertonic hyponatremia have normal total body sodium and a dilutional drop in the measured serum sodium due to the presence of osmotically active molecules in the serum, which causes a water shift from the intracellular compartment to the extracellular compartment.
What happens when your body is low on sodium?
Low blood sodium is common in older adults, especially those who are hospitalized or living in long-term care facilities. Signs and symptoms of hyponatremia can include altered personality, lethargy and confusion. Severe hyponatremia can cause seizures, coma and even death.
What happens when your body is low on electrolytes?
When your body becomes low on electrolytes, it can impair your body’s functions, such as blood clotting, muscle contractions, acid balance, and fluid regulation. Your heart is a muscle, so that means electrolytes help regulate your heartbeat.
Is hyponatremia intracellular or extracellular?
Hyponatremia most often reflect water loss or retention. Sodium concentration also reflects the tonicity of body fluids and thus intracellular fluid (ICF) volume. Since there is little change in number of particles in ICF of most cells, hyponatremia implies swollen cells.
What is the difference between dehydration and hyponatremia?
Losing mainly fluid is known as hypertonic dehydration – or hypernatremia. Losing mainly sodium is known as hypotonic dehydration – or hyponatremia.
Why do you give hypertonic solution for hyponatremia?
Clinicians use hypertonic fluids to increase intravascular fluid volume. Hypertonic saline can be utilized in the treatment of hyponatremia. Hypertonic saline and mannitol are both indicated to reduce intracranial pressure.
How do you fix hyponatremia?
In general, hyponatremia is treated with fluid restriction (in the setting of euvolemia), isotonic saline (in hypovolemia), and diuresis (in hypervolemia). A combination of these therapies may be needed based on the presentation. Hypertonic saline is used to treat severe symptomatic hyponatremia.
How is hyponatremia classified?
Hyponatremia can be classified according to the volume status of the patient as hypovolemic, hypervolemic, or euvolemic. Hypervolemic hyponatremia may be caused by congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, and renal disease.
What is considered hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia is a medical term which refers to a dangerously low level of sodium in the body. Sodium, along with other electrolytes, is a crucial mineral in human nutrition that helps to transport water through the body, and helps to regulate the nerves and major organs such as the heart.
What is the prognosis of hyponatremia?
The prognosis of Hyponatremia is dependent on the underlying cause. Acute Hyponatremia, which occurs very rapidly, is the most dangerous form than Hyponatremia that develops gradually and with time. This is because, when the levels of sodium start to fall gradually the brain cells have time to adjust and here is very minimal swelling of the cells.
How do you correct hyponatremia?
Treatment of depletional hyponatremia. The underlying cause of fluid and sodium loss is corrected. The oral intake of fluids with electrolytes (using oral rehydration solution ORS) is encouraged, according to thirst levels. If necessary, intravenous fluids with sodium chloride 0.9% is given.